AIP Alleges NC, PDP and BJP Collusion Ahead of Budgam By-Elections

SRINAGAR: The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Saturday launched a strong attack on the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of collusion and betrayal ahead of the Budgam by-elections.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, AIP State Secretary Sheikh Ashiq and Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi alleged that the ongoing political developments exposed a “friendly contest” between the NC and the BJP in Nagrota.

“It is now absolutely clear to all of Kashmir that what is happening in Nagrota is a friendly contest between NC and BJP,” Sheikh Ashiq said, adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s “token visit” to Nagrota reflected “softness rather than opposition” toward the BJP.

Ashiq said the NC’s “political and emotional focus” remained fixated on Budgam rather than addressing the broader concerns of development or public welfare. “NC has again betrayed Budgam by sidelining the constituency and staging a managed show in Nagrota,” he remarked.

He further accused the NC of introducing the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu Kashmir and questioned why, after the abrogation of Article 370, “only PSA survived while NC and PDP remained silent on its misuse against Kashmiris.”

“Since 2019, neither NC nor PDP has mounted any joint resistance to the BJP. None of them wish to upset the BJP. Only AIP protested at Jantar Mantar demanding the scrapping of PSA and the release of prisoners, including jailed MP Engineer Rashid,” he said.

Sheikh Ashiq lauded NC leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi for refusing to campaign for his party and appealed to him, along with Molvi Imran Raza Ansari and Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, to support AIP candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan “for dignity and justice in Budgam.”

Responding to queries, Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi revealed that Engineer Rashid had been transferred from Jail No. 3 to Jail No. 1 after filing a complaint against jail authorities accused of taking bribes from Kashmiri prisoners. “After the complaint reached DG Prisons, the harassment began — attacks, injuries, and pressure to withdraw. But he never surrendered,” Inam said, reiterating AIP’s demand for a judicial inquiry.

Commenting on Budgam’s political landscape, Inam alleged that NC, PDP, and BJP were “three faces of the same dynasty that has ruled Budgam for 70 years.” He accused Omar Abdullah of betraying Budgam by vacating the seat after winning with a strong mandate. “People trusted him, but he abandoned Budgam and returned to Ganderbal. This is the history of betrayal,” he said.

The AIP leaders appealed to voters to end “decades of political exploitation” and support Nazir Ahmad Khan, whom they described as “the only choice for justice, integrity, and restoration of people’s rights.”